Snan Yatra

Not too long ago we celebrated the public bathing ceremony of Sri Jagannath Baladeva and mother Subhadra at our center. Sri Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra on their arrival were first seated in the library, were they were offered cooling yogurt rice and laddus.It was a very intimate moment of service to the Lord as we fanned them with  the Chamara and Peacock feather fans. The library was hot and humid, that it recreated the atmosphere of being in Puri. Jagannath Baladev and Subhadra changed into an off white, south Indian style dhoti attire, and were adorned with jasmine and tulasi garlands. Amidst the blowing of conches They were brought to the snan vedi and were readied for their public bath..Devotees came forward to bathe the Lords to the singing of Jagnnathastakam in the background. Conches of aromatic water and nectar were showered on Them and they were whisked away to don the masks of elephants and a lotus and provide Darshan in their Gajanan Attire. The Lordships looked resplendent in the Hati Vesha, made so meticulously by Kalpavriksha Prabhu..In the meantime the Chappan Bhoga feast was laid out for the Lords. Rasagollas, simply wonderfuls, gaja, khaja, fruit platters and savories waited to be tasted by the Lord, while Preeti mataji made the medicinal drink of ginger, camphor, pepper, and other spices to be offered to the Lord..Our little Jagannath wanted to be there for this Chappan Bhog feast as well and so He donned the Hati vesha too and partook the feast laid out so lovingly by all the devotees. After the heavy feast,we returned home with a carful of sick Lords to be treated and nurtured back to health. Some devotees remarked seeing our car "Just imagine the plight of a cop if ever this car was stopped." A transcendental Mardi gras I thought. As I  took off Their elephant masks, I was reminded of years ago when I had made similar such masks for my nieces on their birthday. The Lord surely likes to play like a little child I thought. A week later as I performed Aroti to the Kunjavihariasatakam sung by mother Jagattarini and heard the translation of the verses I got yet another perspective of Kunjabihari Krishna being referred to as an elephant by Srila Rupa Goswami..

sthasakikrta sugandhi patirah
svarnakandi parisobha katira
radhikonata payodharavari
kunjaro jayati kunjavihari
All Glories to Sri Jagannatha Snan yatra, all glories to Sri Kunjabihari Krishna..

Snan Yatra

Personal and Sweet!

The past Sunday we celebrated the Snan Yatra- The Appearance Day of sorts;of Lord Jagannath. I love festivals related to Lord Jagannath and Giriraja because there is no austerity of fasting involved. No growling tummies, dizzy heads and cranky tempers to deal with. So, Jaganntha has His annual bath in full public view and then promptly falls sick. Firstly he reciprocates with the sincere desire of a devotee and offers him Darshan as Ganesha and then by falling sick He makes devotees care for Him by offering herbal teas, fruit juices, rasamalai etc. where the devotees and the Lord gain great pleasure through this transcendental loving exchange. Even this sickness Lila of the Lord is sweet as are all his Lilas, His Flute, His form and His Love. It also gives a much needed opportunity for cleaning up the temple or the house preparing for the subsequent Rath yatra.Just cannot imagine serving Lord Narayana like this? The sweetness of Lord Krishna's Lilas clearly shone through the entire Festival and I was thinking about a question asked by our friend Saahithya where she was asking if Mula Mantras would have an effect even without Brahman Diksha...The answer is yes, but when there is a relationship with Krishna we wouldn't want to bring in formality by chanting mulamantra, showing the mudras and then making the offering. It is said that Lord Jagannath loves Khajas so much that He directly accepts the Khaja right out from the frying pan, soaked in sugar syrup...

The Lord of contradictions is several years old when He displays His Mahabhava Prakash Lila, but I cannot help thinking of Them as little children.

advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rupam adyam purana-purusham nava-yauvanam ca vedeshu durlabham adurlabham atma-bhaktau govindam adi-purusham tam aham bhajami

"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is inaccessible to the Vedas, but obtainable by pure unalloyed devotion of the soul, who is without a second, who is not subject to decay, is without a beginning, whose form is endless, who is the beginning, and the eternal purusha; yet He is a person possessing the beauty of blooming youth." (Sri Brahma-samhita, 5.33) This is an e-mail we received last year on how to observe the Anavasara Period.
As per H.G. Pankajanghri Prabhu of Mayapur ISKCON, following is the standard way of taking care of Lord Jagannath (Balaram and Subhadra) during two weeks of His Sickness and Seclusion (Anvasara) period after "SnanYatra": - You may wake Lord Jagnnath after 6 AM. He can take longer rest in afternoon and take rest about 7 PM everyday. - For eating: soups, boiled sabjis, sweet rice, fruits, fruit juice, tea/s and milk at night. - Medicine: Chyavanprash, mixture of chenna, cream, butter, sugar candy, cardamom, milk and pinch of camphor. - There is no need to change the dress, nor jweleries, nor perform any aratis, nor ringing bell.Hope this information is valuable who serve Lord Jagannatha. Jagannath Snan Yatra ki Jai!

http://picasaweb. google.com/ SriJagannath. ISKCONNJ. Mandir/20090607S riJagannathSnanY atra?authkey= Gv1sRgCK- axvyliJPGgAE&feat=email

Going on Their Rickety Rath Ride

Nilacala Nivasaya Nityaya paramatmane, Balabhadra Subhadrabhyam Jagannathaya Te Namah!

Tried Making a Replica of Shankha Kshetra Sri Jagannath Puri Dham and surrounding Dhams of Utkal or Orissa with fondant. More pictures on chappanbhog!

A Get well card made by Vrinda.

Jagannath in Padma Vesh Attire.

Look Ma; Subhadra has hands..Yes this deity of Subhadra has hands..